bunghole
UK[ˈbʌŋhəʊl]US[ˈbʌŋhoʊl]
n
A hole in a cask, barrel, or other container, through which it is filled and emptied, typically sealed with a bung.
n
Vulgar slang. The anus.
Morpheme Breakdown
bung
hole
bung
stopper
hole
opening
Etymology
The word is a transparent English compound formed from two Old Germanic roots. 'Bung' entered English from Middle Dutch, referring specifically to the stopper used to seal a cask. 'Hole' is a native English word of Proto-Germanic origin, denoting an opening or hollow place. Literally, a 'bunghole' is the hole designed to receive a bung. The term's vulgar slang meaning for the anus is a metaphorical extension from the late 19th century, drawing a coarse anatomical comparison to the function and appearance of a barrel's stoppered opening.
Analysis
Structure: bung (stopper) + hole (opening)
- bung: Origin Middle English (from Middle Dutch bonge meaning 'stopper'). Functional role: A root noun specifying the type of stopper.
- hole: Origin Old English hol (related to holian 'to hollow'). Functional role: A root noun specifying the type of opening.
Examples
The cooper carefully drilled the bunghole before fitting the bung.
To sample the wine, the merchant drew a small amount directly from the bunghole.
The old barrel leaked because the bunghole was damaged.